Chapter XIX: Part 19

2. Transferred to the vicinity of St. Quentin-Vermand, about September 18, the division occupied the vicinity of Fouquescourt on September 26 and 27; attacked in the direction of Bouchoir on October 6. At the end of October the division took over the front of Fouquescourt-Chaulnes and kept it until the end of January, 1915. At this date the losses of the 174th Infantry Regiment, since the beginning of the war, amounted to 81 officers and 3,521 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. About January 25, 1915, the 31st Division left the Somme for the Eastern Front, leaving the 60th Infantry Regiment in France, and detrained at Tilsit.

2. Concentrated in Eastern Prussia, at the beginning of February, it was a part of the Hindenburg Army.

3. On February 14 it left the region of Augustowo to advance to the east. It reached Sopockin on the 20th and took up its position with the 21st Army Corps on the line Sopockin-Chatbine (north of Grodno). On the 9th of March, in a counterattack of the Russians, it suffered heavy losses.

4. From March 29 to April 24 it took part in the battles in the vicinity Kalwaria-Mariampol.

5. At the end of April it was withdrawn from the front and reorganized. From the time of its arrival in Russia until April 10, the first battalion of the 166th Infantry Regiment had lost 17 officers and 1,022 men, the 1st Company alone losing 5 officers and 336 men.

6. At the end of July the division again occupied the lines near Mariampol.

VILNA.

7. In the month of August it took part in the offensive upon Vilna. It advanced to Kovno on August 19, to Vilna at the end of September, and reached the area Smorgoni-Soly, where it stopped in October.

8. The division was relieved on October 6. It went back into line about October 24, in the sector of Postawy-Lake Narotch.

NAROTCH.

1. The 31st Division occupied the vicinity of Lake Narotch until its departure for the Western Front in December, 1917.

2. At the end of March, 1916, it opposed the Russian offensive in the vicinity of this lake; it lost very heavily.

1917.

BELGIUM.

1. On December 5, 1917, it was relieved from the Russian front, and after a few days rest at Vilna entrained for Belgium on December 16. (Itinerary: Wirballen-Koenigsberg-Elbing-Dirschau-Ramberg (?) Aix la Chapelle-Verviers.) It detrained about the 21st, in the vicinity of Ghent and took up its position at the end of January, 1918 south of the Ypres-Roulers line where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division.

RECRUITING.

The 31st Division is recruited mostly from the vicinity of Sarrebrucken and St. Wendel in the Rhine Province. Most of the replacements are furnished by Westphalia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 31st Division was on the Russian front from February, 1915 to December 1917. The quality is mediocre.

1918.

YPRES.

1. From January 19 to February 4 the division held the Moorslede sector (south of Ypres-Roulers railway). The division rested until the 14th in the vicinity of Lendelede. It relieved the 12th Reserve Division on the 14th in its old sector at Moorslede which it held until March 3, and again from March 21 until April 4.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. About April 4 the division was withdrawn and marched to the Messines front. The route lay through Menin, Werwicq, Comines, Warneton. It was engaged on April 10 to 12 in the Bois de Ploegsteert. For its fighting in this area the division was mentioned by the German communique of April 13. From the 12th to the 17th, it was in second line. It fought south and southwest of Kemmel from April 18 to 24 when it passed into close support until the 26th. The division’s losses were large in this severe engagement. The 3d Battalion of the 174th Regiment is known to have lost from 60 to 70 per cent of its effectives.

3. When relieved in the Kemmel area, the division rested north of Tourcoing until May 6, undergoing reconstitution. It returned to line north of Kemmel on the night of May 6–7, relieving the Alpine Corps. It suffered heavily from the French attack of May 21, losing many prisoners. It was relieved on May 24, and rested in the Courtrai-Menin area until June 15. It was engaged in the sector south of Ypres from June 15 until July 27.

WOEVRE.

4. Following its arduous service on the Ypres front, the division was moved to a quiet sector on the Woevre. It was moved from Belgium by way of Brussels, Namur, Charleville, Sedan to Mars la Tour from where it marched to the front and took over the St. Mihiel sector on July 29, which it held until September 3.

BATTLE OF ST. MIHIEL.

5. The division was resting in the area north of Dampvitoux when the American attack was made on the St. Mihiel salient. It was brought into line north of Thiaucourt on the 14th and held this sector until October 28.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. On the 31st, the division was engaged at Imecourt (northeast of Grandpre) and took part in the final combats in that area. It was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In spite of its relatively low quality it appears to have been used as an attack division in the Lys offensive. The losses in the spring and the presence of numerous Lorrainers in its composition lowered the value of the division after May, 1918.

32d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │63. │102. │63. │102. │64. │102.
│ │103. │ │103. │ │177.
│64. │177. │64. │177. │ │103.
│ │178. │ │178. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │18 Hus. Rgt. │ │20 Hus. Rgt. (3
│ │ │ Squadrons).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │32 Brig.: │32 Brig.: │32 Brig.:
│ 28 F. A. Rgt. │ 28 F. A. Rgt. │ 28 F. A. Rgt.
│ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. No. 12:
Liaisons. │ │ 12: │
│ │ Field Co. 12 Pion.│ 2 Co. 12 Pion.
│ │ │
│ │ 32 Pont. Engs. │ 32 T. M. Co.
│ │ 32 Tel. Detch. │ 32 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 32 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │115 Labor Btn.
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │63. │102. │63. │102.
│ │177. │ │103.
│ │103. │ │177.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt.│4 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │32 Art. Command: │32 Art. Command:
│ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 80 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 943 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1063 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1266 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│140 Pion. Btn.: │140 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 and 5 Cos. 12 │ 2 Co. 12 Pions.
│ Pion. │
│ 32 T. M. Co. │ 5 Co. 12 Pions.
│ 32 Tel. Detch. │ 3 Res. Co. 12
│ │ Pions.
│ │ 32 T. M. Co.
│ │ 220 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │32 Signal Command:
│ │ 32 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 20 (Saxon)
│ │ Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │28 Ambulance Co. │28 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│308 Field Hospital.│308 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │116 Field Hospital.
│ │32 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │565 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │61 M. G. │
│ Sharpshooter │
│ Detachment. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.

1. Upon the declaration of war the 32d Division, with the 23d Division, formed the 12th Army Corps (1st Saxon Army Corps). On the night of August 2, 1914, its 64th Brigade entrained for the frontier north of Luxemburg to act as covering troops. The 32d Division was concentrated there on the 10th and entered Belgium on the 13th. In August, it marched with the 3d Army (von Hausen), fought on the right bank of the Meuse on August 23 near Dinant, entered France, went into action on the 28th at Signy l’Abbaye, and from there went down to Chalons. It took part in the battle of the Marne to the left of the Guard at Lenharree on the extreme right flank of the 6th Army and retired by way of Chalons, Mourmelon, Betheniville to the northwest of Rheims.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Reattached to the 7th Army (Von Heeringen), it took part in the attacks in the vicinity of Rheims (northwest).

3. When the front became stabilized it retained the sector of Berry au Bac-Craonne and remained there until the month of July, 1915.

1915.

AISNE.

1. Sector Berry au Bac-Craonne. (During this period the losses of the division were very small.) In April, 1915, the 178th Infantry Regiment was taken from the 32d Division and assigned to the 123d Division (a new formation).

1916.

1. Retained in the same calm sector and having taken part in no important affair since October, 1914, the 32d Division retained its combat value intact at the end of June, 1916.

SOMME.

2. During the first days of the Franco-British offensive on the Somme the 32d Division sent one battalion from reserve there, which went into action from July 4 to July 7 in the vicinity of Belloy.

3. Toward the end of July two of its regiments (102d and 103d Infantry Regiments) helped to form (with elements from the 23d Division) the provisional Franke Division, which fought on the Somme until September 10 (Deniecourt-Vermandovillers). The losses were very heavy.

4. On the 4th of September the 177th Infantry Regiment was sent up in its turn, but was in action only a few days in the vicinity of Vermandovillers from September 4 to 10. Its losses were enormous (1,600 men in 6 days).

5. The Franke Division was withdrawn on September 10 and dissolved.

ARGONNE.

6. The 32d Division, reformed (102d, 103d, 177th Infantry Regiments) and reorganized, was sent north of Rheims and then to the Argonne (Four de Paris and Avocourt wood).

SOMME.

7. Relieved at the beginning of November, it entrained on the 3d and 4th near Grandpre, detrained at Hirson, and on November 15 began to occupy the sector between Bouchavesnes and northeast of Clery.

1917.

1. The 32d Division was retained in the Bouchavesnes sector until the time of the German retirement in March, 1917.

2. It left the Somme front at the end of March.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. After a period of rest in the vicinity of Sissonne, the division went into action in the sector of Mont sans Nom (4 kilometers west of Vaudesincourt on Apr. 17 and 18). Having lost heavily, the 3 regiments were withdrawn on the 19th.

4. On May 5 the division again went into line west of Tahure.

FLANDERS.

5. About June 10 it was relieved, and after a few days of rest entrained at Machault for Flanders. There it went into line near the Ypres-Menin road.

6. At the beginning of September it was withdrawn from the Ypres front and sent to rest, then took over the sector Warneton-Messines and was not relieved until the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 32d Division is exclusively Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In June, 1917, the morale of the division was very low because of the losses suffered at Mont Haut.

However, during the division’s stay in the Tahure sector from May to June, 1917, there were only two desertions.

Besides, Gen. von Der Decken is considered an energetic commander and it is very probable that under his influence the morale has become more satisfactory (September, 1917).

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division was relieved on January 15 by the 49th Reserve Division and rested near Tournai until the beginning of March. It was railed to Wambrechies and entered the line northwest of Lille about March 1. About the 4th of April it was moved south and on April 9 was engaged at Fleurbaix. It was withdrawn to rest on the 16th to Armentieres and returned to line on the 18th, relieving the 117th Division. It was in line until May 8, during which time it suffered heavy losses. A replacement of 450 men was received on April 17.

2. Relieved by the 35th Division, it rested in rear of the Lys front until May 26, when it took over the sector west of Merville and held it until the end of June.

WOEVRE.

3. It was relieved about July 1 and railed to Lorraine, detraining near Spincourt on July 4. About this time, the division received a draft of 1500 men. It was in line at Eix-Bezonveaux from July 15 to October 1, a very quiet sector. The troops were marched to the rear on that date and rested in the Eton-Loison area for two days. On the 3d the division marched to Penard-Tilly, where it rested until the 5th, and on that night marched to Breville. It came into line on October 9 on the right bank of the Meuse, and was engaged in the Bois de Moirey region until October 24. Losses were heavy, some companies being reduced to 15 men. On November 3 the division reappeared in its former sector of Bezonvaux, relieving the 106th A. H. D. It held this sector until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It did well on the Lys in April, but after that was not seriously engaged except for a few days in October, when it was brought up to resist an American attack east of the Meuse. In the fighting it did not distinguish itself. The morale of the division was low in the latter half of 1918.

33d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │66. │98. │66. │98. │66. │98.
│ │130. │ │130. │ │130.
│67. │135. │67. │135. │67. │135.
│ │144. │ │144. │ │144.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │12 Jag. z. Pf. │ │4 Sqn. 12 Jag. z.
│ │ │ Pf.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │33 Brig.: │33 Brig.: │33 Brig.:
│ 33 Rgt. │ 33 Rgt. │ 33 Rgt.
│ 34 Rgt. │ 34 Rgt. │ 34 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ 16:
│ │ Field Co. 16 Pion.│ 1 Co. 16 Pion.
│ │ │
│ │ 33 Tel. Detch. │ Field Co. 20 Pion.
│ │ │
│ │ 33 Pont. Engs. │ 33 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 33 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 33 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │66. │98. │66. │98.
│ │135. │ │130.
│ │130. │ │135.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │4 Sqn. 12 Horse
│ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │33 Art. Command: │33 Art. Command:
│ 283 Rgt. │ 283 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 76 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 883 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1372 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1373 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│132 Pion. Btn.: │16 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 and 5 Cos. 16 │ 5 Co. 16 Pions.
│ Pion. │
│ 1 Res. Co. 16 │ 1 Res. Co. 16
│ Pion. │ Pion.
│ 33 T. M. Co. │ 34 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ (16) Searchlight │33 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ 33 Tel. Detch. │ 33 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 74 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │42 Ambulance Co. │42 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│280, 282 Field │282 Field Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │33 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

At the beginning of the war the 33d Division, with the 34th Division, formed the 16th Army Corps (Metz). Reservists began arriving on July 29 (Soldbuecher).

1. At the outbreak of hostilities the 33d Division was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). It invaded France by way of Audun le Roman, went around by the north of Verdun, crossed the Meuse at Givry on September 1 and advanced as far as Rambluzin and Heippes (20 kilometers south of Verdun).

ARGONNE.

2. After the battle of the Marne it took up its position in the Argonne. Its advance had been costly. On September 24 the new commander of the 98th Infantry Regiment found it reduced 13 officers and 982 men (document).

1915.

ARGONNE.

1. The 33d Division remained without interruption in the Argonne from September, 1914, to about the middle of August, 1916.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. About August 10, 1916, the division was relieved from the Argonne and, after a short rest behind the front, was sent into the line at Verdun, east of Fleury.

2. In this sector, the division lost rather heavily. It remained there until the middle of September, at which time it took its place in the sector Vauquois, giving the 144th Infantry Regiment to the 223d Division, a new formation.

ARGONNE.

3. During this latter period, which extended up to the middle of December, the division was reorganized and absorbed the 4th Battalion, suppressed, on October 31, in the 27th Landwehr Regiment. At the same time, the 4th Battalions which the regiments of the division possessed, were broken up.

SOMME.

4. Transferred to the Somme about December 15, it there occupied the sector east of Beaumont-Hamel and did not leave it until February 8, 1917. During these two months, its losses were rather serious.

1917.

ARGONNE.

1. Sent to rest in the Sedan area, the 33d Division went back into its old sector Vauquois at the end of February, 1917. No important event marks its stay in the Argonne after that time.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On May 3, it was relieved and transferred to Champagne. It marched as far as Pont Faverger and went into line at Cornillet and Mont Blond. It took part in the battle on this front and suffered some losses (172 prisoners from the 130th Infantry Regiment on May 20).

ARGONNE.

3. Withdrawn from this region at the end of May, it was again sent to the Argonne (Boureuilles-Vauquois), about June 7.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. At the end of September it came out of the Argonne, and about October 4 went to the area of Tahure, where it remained in line until February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Not being able to utilize the regional system of recruiting from annexed Lorraine, the 33d Division is composed almost entirely of Westphalians from the 7th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Army Corps, of which the 33d Division is a part, has always had the reputation of being one of the best corps of the German Army.

Although the 33d Division lost very heavily during the offensive of April and May, 1917, it still appeared strong (October, 1917).

1918.

1. The division was relieved on January 4 by the 28th Reserve Division and went to rest and train in the area northwest of Sedan. On March 14 it was railed to the vicinity of Rozoy sur Serre and rested a week north of Montcornet. From there the division proceeded by night marches via Montcornet-Crecy sur Serre-Monceau le Neuf-Ribemont-Mezieres-Moy-ly Fontaine-Gibercourt-Montescourt-Jussy-Flavy le Martel, where it arrived on March 23. On the following night the division was billeted in Villeselve and came into line astride the Ham-Noyon road on March 24.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On the 25th the division fought its way through Noyon and on the following days was engaged in heavy fighting about Suzoy and Mont Renaud, which it failed to capture in spite of heavy sacrifices. It was withdrawn on April 15.

3. The division rested from April 15 to May 24 in the vicinity of Dercy, Mortiers, Pierrepont, and Barenton sur Serre undergoing reconstitution. It marched to the Aisne front by Coucy les Eppes, Bruyeres, and Chamouille.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

4. The division was engaged on May 27 in the front line of the attack and advanced by Pancy, Courtecon, Verneuil, Pont-Arcy, Dhuizel, Courcelles, Jouaignes (20th), Oulchy la Ville, south of Neuilly St. Front, Dammard. In this last region losses were heavy on June 2. It was relieved by the 78th Reserve Division on June 3.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

5. The division rested south of Soissons from June 7 to July 11, when it marched to the Marne front by Braisne, Fere en Tardenois, Foret de Ris. It was in reserve on the 15th on the north of the Marne, west of Dormans. On the 17th–18th it fell back on Beuvardes and Grisolles and was engaged the next day southeast of Neuilly St. Front. In the heavy fighting of the following days the division was thrown back south of Oulchy le Chateau toward Fere en Tardenois (July 21–23). The division withdrew until the Vesle was reached when it was relieved about July 31.

VERDUN.

6. The division entrained southeast of Montcornet on August 6 and was moved to Avocourt via Sedan-Charleville-Montmedy. It rested southeast of Stenay until August 15. Replacements were received from the dissolved 33d Reserve Division in August. On August 21, the division entered line near Ornes (north of Verdun) where it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was used as an assault division in the Somme and Aisne offensives of 1918. It was disorganized by its losses in the Marne retreat and never recovered its offensive value.

33d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │66 Res. │67 Res. │66 Res. │67 Res. │66 Res. │67 Res.
│ │130 Res. │ │130 Res. │ │130 Res.
│8 Bav. │4 Bav. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │8 Bav. │4 Bav.
│ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│2 Res. Hus. Rgt. │2 Res. Hus. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │4 Ers. Abts. of 33,│Ers. Abts. of 33, │33 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ 34, 69, 70 F. A. │ 34, 69, 70 F. A. │
│ Rgts. │ Rgts. combined │
│ │ into 33 Res. F. │
│ │ A. Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │3 Pion. Btn. No. │4 Field Co. 16
Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ Pion. Btn.:
│ │ 1 Ers. Co. 20 │ 1 Ldw. Pion. Co 4,
│ │ Pion. │ corps.
│ │ 1 Ldw. Pion. Co. │ 233 T. M. Co.
│ │ 4, Corps. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ 33 Res. Pont. │ 33 Pont. Engs.
│ │ Engs. │
│ │ 33 Res. Tel. │ 33 Res. Tel.
│ │ Detch. │ Detch.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │Battery of 8 Ft. A.│4 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ R. │ Detch.
│ │3 Abt. 18 Ft. A. R.│
│ │ (elements). │
│ │2 Btry. 8 Res. Ft. │
│ │ A. R. │
│ │1 and 2 Btries. 2 │
│ │ Abt. 16 Ft. A. R.│
│ │2 Abt. 2 Bav. Res. │
│ │ Ft. A. R. │
│ │ (elements). │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[18]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │66 Res. │67 Res. │66 Res. │364.
│ │130 Res. │ │67 Res.
│ │364. │ │130 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.│
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │33 Res. F. A. Rgt. │33 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│233 Pion. Btn.: │333 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ers. Co. 20 │ 333 Pion. Co.
│ Pion. │
│ 1 Ldw. Co. 4 Pion.│ 1 Ldw. Co. 4 C.
│ │ Dist. Pions. (in
│ │ 3 Pion. Btn. No.
│ │ 16).
│ 233 T. M. Co. │ 14 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 14 Searchlight │ 233 T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│ 433 Tel. Detch. │ 433 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │274 Ambulance Co. │273 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│47 and 51 Field │51 Field Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │873 Light Mun. Col.│M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │646 Supply Depot.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │47 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
Footnote 18:

Composition at the time of dissolution September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

LORRAINE.

1. Formed at Metz with the 8th Bavarian Brigade and the 66th Reserve Brigade, the 33d Reserve Division was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince) at the outbreak of the war. In August, 1914, it took part in the battles of Nomeny and went to Verdun by way of Gondrecourt, Rouvres, Étain. On August 24 and 25 it was in action at Étain and suffered heavily. On August 26 the 10th Company of the 8th Bavarian Regiment had only 75 men left (notebook).

At the beginning of September, it occupied both banks of the Moselle south of Pont à Mousson, and about September 15 the vicinity of Thiaucourt.

WOEVRE-LES ÉPARGES.

2. At the end of September and the beginning of October it went back into the sector South of Étain (Riaville, Bracquis). On October 8 the 8th Bavarian Brigade attacked Champlon and Fresnes; the 67th Reserve Regiment attacked the Ville en Woëvre on October 9. After these battles, the 33d Reserve Division took up its position on the Côtes de Meuse (Combres, Les Éparges).

3. In November the 66th Reserve Brigade was in Flanders—on the Yser Canal from November 16 to 24, and left for Lorraine on November 25.

1915.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

1. The 33d Reserve Division remained in line on the Côtes de Meuse until the end of July, 1916.

2. About January 17, 1915, elements of the 66th Reserve Brigade were sent to the Bois le Pretre and suffered heavy losses. They rejoined the division on the Côtes at the end of January.

LES EPARGES.

3. From February to the end of April, 1915, the 33d Reserve Division took part in the battles of Combres and of Les Éparges; it lost very heavily there, especially in the actions of February 17 to 20. From April 15 to May 1 no less than 140 men were sent as replacements to the 12th Company of the 67th Reserve Regiment.

4. After reorganization the 33d Reserve Division went to the calmer sector of Vaux les Palameix, Lamorville.

CALONNE.

5. The division once more suffered heavy losses in the Calonne trench in May, 1915.

6. On July 17, 1915, the 130th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent in support of an attack on Les Éparges. After this period the 33d Reserve Division occupied the sector south of Vaux les Palameix (Chevaliers wood, Bouchot wood) without taking part in any important engagement.

1916.

1. On July 25, 1916, the division was relieved from the Côtes de Meuse and sent to rest until August 25 in the area north of Briey. At this time the 8th Bavarian Brigade was detached from the 33d Reserve Division to serve in forming the 14th Bavarian Division and the 33d Reserve Division was reorganized with three regiments, with the 66th Reserve Brigade and the 364th Infantry Regiment (coming from the 8th Ersatz Division).

VERDUN.

2. On August 26 the division went into line on the front north of Verdun, southwest of the fort of Vaux. It took part in the battles from September 2 to 9 in the Vaux Chapitre wood and suffered very heavy losses. The 12th Company of the 67th Reserve Infantry Regiment received at least 142 men as replacements from September 13 to 21.

3. After being reorganized the division underwent the French attack of October 24, which again caused it considerable losses. Upon its relief the 2d Battalion of the 130th Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 45 combatants. (Notebook of an aspirant officer.)

4. Withdrawn from the front on November 1, the 33d Reserve Division was sent to rest and to be reorganized. It had suffered so heavily that among the reenforcements at the beginning of 1917 we find untrained men of the Landsturm II Ban.

LORRAINE.

5. The division was then sent to Lorraine to the Blamont sector.

1917.

1. The division held the Lorraine front until March 10, 1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. After a month’s rest in the vicinity of Sarreburg, the 33d Reserve Division was transferred to Marle (Apr. 16–19). On April 21 and 22 elements of the division were distributed upon different points of the Aisne front to replace the units exhausted by the French attack of April 16, and soon afterwards were regrouped north of Laffaux Mill. The 33d Reserve Division suffered very heavy losses withstanding the French attack of May 5 and counterattacking on the days following (May 5–7) (1,000 prisoners); almost the entire 2d Battalion of the 67th Reserve Infantry Regiment was captured.

3. Withdrawn in part from the Aisne front on May 12, the 33d Division again had some of its units in action between the Aisne Canal and Laffaux Mill until May 23 (German attack of May 16, where the 130th Reserve Infantry Regiment suffered heavy losses).

4. At the end of May the 33d Reserve Division returned to the vicinity of Sarreburg to rest and be reorganized. It received recruits not only from the recruit depot of Beverloo, but also from the depot at Warsaw.

LORRAINE.

5. About June 10 it again took over its former sector in Lorraine (Blamont-Leintry).

VERDUN.

6. On August 23 the division went into action on the Verdun front (sector of Baumont-Chaume wood). It underwent the French attack of the 26th where it suffered heavily. It again had recourse to the Warsaw recruit depot which sent it, among other reenforcements, untrained men of the Landsturm second Ban.

7. Relieved about September 10, the 33d Reserve Division was transferred to Galicia by way of Metz, Frankfort, Erfurt, Dresden, Breslau, Cracow.

GALICIA.

8. It was identified in Galicia at the beginning of October.

RECRUITING.

After the 8th Bavarian Brigade was withdrawn the 33d Reserve Division was exclusively Prussian. Its regiments were recruited almost entirely from the Rhine Province and Westphalia. In May, 1917, however, following the losses suffered on the Chemin des Dames, a great number of young men came from Western Prussia (1918 class), coming from the large depots of Beverloo and Warsaw. At the end of August the Warsaw depot sent untrained men from the Landsturm II Ban from the 9th and 10th Corps Districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 33d Reserve Division is a good division.

At Verdun elements of the division fought vigorously and made the French advance very difficult on October 24, 1916.

Between May 5 and May 7, 1917, the division launched very violent counterattacks against Laffaux Mill. Elements of the 364th Infantry Regiment succeeded in capturing the Chateau de la Motte. In the sector of Beaumont at Verdun the 1st Battalion of the 364th Infantry Regiment put up a very stubborn resistance to the French on August 26, 1917.

The 33d Reserve Division was very much exhausted by the attacks on the Aisne. The reenforcement which it received on May 4, 1917, were mostly men belonging to the 1918 class. On August 26, 1917, more than one- fourth of the prisoners belonged to this class.

In January, 1918, it already counted among its ranks young men of the 1919 class, who had arrived on January 14.

Taking into account its recent long rest and its intensive training in offensive warfare and the declarations of prisoners captured in March, 1918, who all declare that their division is an assault division destined to take part in a great breaking through offensive, we must conclude that the 33d Reserve Division has again become an organization of high quality (Mar. 30, 1918).

1918.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

1. The division continued to hold its sector northwest of Rheims until the Aisne offensive in May. It advanced with the rest of the line, having as its objective the Marne River. It progressed through Cauroy (27th), St. Thierry (28th), and Vrigny (31st). Here the line was stabilized. The division was withdrawn June 20.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On June 25 the division relieved the 88th Division in the Mont Têtu sector (Eastern Champagne). It was on the extreme left of the German attack east of Rheims on July 15, and suffered so heavily that it was withdrawn on July 20.

3. In mid-August the division was broken up. The 364th and 67th Reserve Regiments were drafted to the 16th and 34th Divisions.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 33d Reserve Division was rated as fourth class. As a result of its failure in the Aisne and Champagne offensives, it was disbanded in August, 1918.

34th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │68. │67. │68. │67. │68. │67.
│ │145. │ │145. │ │145.
│86. │30. │86. │30. │86. │30.
│ │173. │ │173. │ │173.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │16 Uhlan Rgt. │ │5 Sqn. 12 Jag. z.
│ │ │ Pf.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │34 Brig.: │34 Brig.: │34 Brig.:
│ 69 Rgt. │ 69 Rgt. │ 69 Rgt.
│ 70 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ 16:
│ │ Field Co. 16 Pion.│ 2 Co. 16 Pion.
│ │ │
│ │ 34 Tel. Detch. │ 34 T. M. Co.
│ │ 34 Pont. Engs. │ 34 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 34 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Labor Btn. 34 Div.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │68. │67. │68. │30.
│ │30. │ │67.
│ │145. │ │145.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │5 Sqn. 12 Horse
│ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │34 Art. Command: │34 Art. Command:
│ 70 Rgt. │ (?) F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 116 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 1174 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1191 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1192 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│132 Pion. Btn.: │132 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 and 3 Cos. 16 │ 2 Co. 16 Pion.
│ Pion. │
│ 34 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 16 Pion.
│ 259 Searchlight │ 34 T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│ 34 Tel. Detch. │ 193 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 34 Pont. Engs. │34 Signal Command:
│ │ 34 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 18 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │Ambulance Co. │41 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│281–283 Field │281 Field Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │283 Field Hospital.
│ │34 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │567 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │44 M. G. S. S. Abt.
│ │249 Reconnaissance
│ │ Flight.
│ │119 Art.
│ │ Observation
│ │ Section.
│ │83 Balloon Sqn.
│ │534 Carrier Pigeon
│ │ Loft.
│ │(Elements attached
│ │ June 6, 1918.
│ │ German
│ │ documents.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 34th Division and the 33d Division were organic parts of the 16th Army Corps (Metz).

MEUSE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 34th Division marched with the 5th Army (German Crown Prince), entered France on August 21, by Audun le Roman and by way of Nouillon Pont, and reached the Meuse, which it crossed at Vilosnes and Sivry on September 1. It advanced as far as Beauzée and Seraucourt.

ARGONNE.

2. After the battle of the Marne it retired to the north and took up its position in the Argonne.

1915.

ARGONNE.

1. The 54th Division remained in the Argonne without interruption from September, 1914, until about August 15, 1916. It took part there in the offensives of January and July, 1915, where it suffered heavy losses. On January 18, 1915, the 30th Infantry Regiment had already lost 56 officers and 2,723 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

2. After these violent battles, it received fairly large replacements. The division suffered no serious losses in this sector during the period which followed these engagements until its relief on Aug. 15, 1916.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. On this date the 34th Division was transferred to the right bank of the Meuse at Verdun.

2. It went into action in the Chiaumont sector at the end of August, 1916, and during the month of September, took part in some very severe battles in this vicinity.

3. On September 20, its losses were very great because of our attack. The regiments of the 34th Division again lost heavily in the course of our offensive of October 24, which succeeded in recapturing the Douaumont Fort and the Thiaumont Works; on that day, their resistance was rather weak. The 67th Infantry Regiment received about 71 men for its 8th Company in the week of October 28-November 5.

VOSGES.

4. On October 29 the 34th Division was relieved. Beginning with November 14, it occupied a calm sector in the Vosges, southwest of Senones. At this time it received fairly large replacements. The 173d Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 223d Division, a new formation.

1917.

ARGONNE.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the division returned to the Argonne. It remained there a short time. In the middle of March, it was relieved and transferred to the region north of Rheims (beginning of April).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Immediately after our offensive of April 16, the 67th and 30th Infantry Regiments went into action in the vicinity of Brimont, while the 145th Infantry Regiment was sent to Cornillet as a reenforcement from April 18 to 20.

3. About April 25, the 34th Division was again concentrated in the Brimont sector, where it relieved the 43d Reserve Division.

4. About the middle of June it extended its sector to include the stretch from the Champ du Seigneur to the Verrerie of Courcy. During the attacks of April the division suffered very heavy losses; the 145th Infantry Regiment lost about one-third of its effectives.

FLANDERS.

5. On July 21 the 34th Division was relieved from the Rheims front and sent to Flanders on August 7. It remained in reserve in the vicinity of Dadizeele until August 12. It then went into action near the Ypres-Menin road, where it had heavy losses.

WOEVRE.

6. On August 24, it left this front for La Haye, where it went into line southeast of Thiaucourt (vicinity of Flirey) and remained until October 31.

CAMBRAI.

7. At the beginning of November, it was in the vicinity of Cambrai. It took part in the German counterattack of November 30.

LAONNOIS.

8. After a rest in December, the 34th Division occupied the sector of Crandelain, on the Ailette, until January 7, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Because of the difficulty of recruiting in its own corps district (Lorraine), the 34th Division is composed mostly of Westphalians and men from the Rhine Province. The name of “Magdeburg” given to the 67th Infantry Regiment has only a historic value.

The men, as a rule, belong to the classes of 1912 to 1918.

The replacements received by the division in Lorraine (September, 1917) brought in an undetermined number of men more than 25 years of age, especially those of the Landsturm of about 30 years of age, withdrawn from the Russian front and trained for a while in a depot in the interior.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 34th Division was one of the good Divisions of the German Army. Nevertheless, at the time of our attack upon Thiamont on October 24, 1916, it had a period of genuine weakness.

Its attitude in the Brimont sector in April and May, 1917, was such that it must still be classed among the good divisions.

At Ypres, in August, 1917, charged with the defense of one of the most important sectors, it did not realize the hopes of the German High Command.

According to the interrogation of a prisoner (February, 1918), the 34th Division is a shock division destined to attack.

1918.

LAON.

1. Early in January the division which had been resting near Laon, relieved the 3d Bavarian Division near Courtecon (south of Laon); withdrawn toward the end of February, it went to rest near Liesse (northeast of Laon), where it remained until March 15.

PICARDY.

2. Then it marched toward the front via Marcy (west of Marle) and Ribemont. On the 21st it entered line south of St. Quentin, took Benay, which was its objective, crossed the canal, and took Jussy on the 23d. It continued its advance as far as Pontoise (southeast of Noyon). It was withdrawn on April 2, after having lost 50 per cent of its total effectives, and went to rest in the area southeast of Roye. While here it received 1,000 replacements.

3. On the 10th, it came back into line south of Guiscard (north of Noyon). It was withdrawn about the 20th, the 50th Division taking over its sector.

4. After spending about 10 days near Beaumont en Beine (southeast of Ham) training in close and open order and in rifle practice, the division relieved the 223d Division south of Appilly (east of Noyon) on May 1. On the 15th, it received 15 replacements per company. It was relieved by the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division on the 20th, and went to rest, first in the region east of Chauny, and then in the St. Gobain forest (south of La Fère).

AISNE.

5. After having been in reserve four days near Pernant (west of Soissons), the division reenforced the front near Ambleny (west of Soissons) on June 12, attacking, the same day, with the Coeuvres-Vic sur Aisne road as its objective. It could make no headway at all, and suffered losses of about 30 per cent of its strength. It was withdrawn about the 6th of July.

6. On the 19th, it came back into line near Vauxbuin (southwest of Soissons), and was withdrawn on the 22d after suffering severely; over 300 in prisoners alone. It went to rest in the Guise area; later, it moved to the vicinity of Coucy le Château. While here, it received as a draft the dissolved 67th Reserve Regiment (33d Reserve Division disbanded).

AILETTE.

7. The division reenforced the front near Cuts (southeast of Noyon) on August 15. It was withdrawn on September 25.

ST. QUENTIN.

8. It entrained the same day north of St. Gobain, and detrained in the St. Bohain region the next day; it rested here for two days, and was transported by truck to St. Quentin on the 28th. The following day, it relieved the 221st Division southwest of that town. On the 30th, it was forced to relinquish St. Quentin to the French. It continued to withdraw, but fighting stubbornly, and was relieved on the 9th of October near Fontaine-Uterte (northeast of St. Quentin). It rested for a week between Avesnes and Maubeuge.

GUISE.

9. It moved to the Petit Verly-Grougis region (northwest of Guise) on the 17th, in support of the 81st Reserve Division, but that unit being placed hors de combat by the attack of the 18th, the 34th Division found itself in the front line, and even lost nearly 100 prisoners. It was relieved on the 23d after losing nearly 700 more prisoners. It then rested about a week in the Vervins region.

10. On November 1, it returned to line near Puisieux (south of Guise), and withdrew along the line Marly, Romery, Sommeron. It was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 34th has always been considered as one of the best second-class divisions. As a result, however, of its heavy losses during the spring, it contained large numbers of boys of the 1919 class. Having been engaged without rest from the middle of August until the end of the war, it was reduced to the point where it has less than 1,000 effectives left. In all probability, it would soon have been dissolved had the war continued.

35th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │70. │21. │70. │21. │87. │141.
│ │61. │ │61. │ │61.
│87. │141. │87. │141. │ │176.
│ │176. │ │176. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Jag. z. Pf. │ │5 Hus. Rgt. (2
│ │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │35 Brig.: │35 Brig.: │35 Brig.:
│ 71 Rgt. │ 71 Rgt. │ 71 Rgt.
│ 81 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 17: │ 17:
│ │ Field Co. 17 Pion.│ 1 Co. 17 Pion.
│ │ 35 Tel. Detch. │ 4 Co. 36 Pion.
│ │ 25 Pont. Engs. │ 35 T. M. Co.
│ │ │ 35 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 35 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │2 Assault Detch.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │87. │141. │87. │61.
│ │61. │ │141.
│ │176. │ │176.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │35 Art. Command: │35 Art. Command:
│ 71 Rgt. │ 71 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 18 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 715 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 716 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1305 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│133 Pion. Btn.: │133 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 and 2 17 Pion. │ 1 Co. 17 Pions.
│ 35 T. M. Co. │ 2 Co. 17 Pions.
│ 35 Tel. Detch. │ 35 T. M. Co.
│ 36 Pont. Engs. │ 223 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │35 Signal Command:
│ │ 35 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 121 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │44 Amb. Co. │44 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│289, 293 Field │289 Field Hospital.
│ Hospts. │
│35 Vet. Hospital. │293 Field Hospital.
│ │35 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │568 Light Mun. Col.│568 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Corps District—Western Prussia.)

1914–15.

EAST PRUSSIA.

1. The 35th Division formed with the 36th Division the 17th Army Corps (Danzig). It remained on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war until October, 1915. It took part in the battles of Gumbinnen and Tannenberg, then in the two German offensives upon Warsaw. It participated in the operations on the Bzura and the Narew, where it remained until August 1, 1915.

RUSSIA.

2. It was sent to rest near Bielostok, and at the end of September, 1915, the decision was made to send it to the Western Front.

3. It entrained at Grodno about October 6, and arrived about the 10th in the vicinity of Péronne where it was filled up. The 9th Company of the 176th Infantry Regiment received no less than 60 men between October 3 and 13.

FRANCE.

4. In the middle of October it went into the Roye sector and remained there during the entire winter of 1915–16.

1916.

SOMME.

1. About May 25, 1916, it went slightly to the north and occupied the sector between the Chaulnes-Amiens railroad and the south of Soyécourt.

2. At the beginning of July, when the Somme battle began, the 35th Division was holding the front from west of Vermandovillers to the south of Chilly. The 176th Infantry Regiment was sent into line in the sector of Herbécourt-Estrées on July 2 and lost 170 prisoners to the French. This regiment lost heavily in the French attack of July 20 between Belloy and the Ètoilé wood.

3. On September 4 and the days following the 35th Division was effecting a relief at the time of the French offensive and suffered considerably because of this (almost 2,000 prisoners, 39 of whom were officers).

4. It had to be retired from the front on September 8 and sent to rest at Ham. Between October 15 and 20 it again went into line from the southwest of Chaulnes to the southwest of Chilly.

5. According to official calculations, the 35th Division had casualties of 6,102 men, 68 per cent of the effectives engaged, in the course of the battle of the Somme.

1917.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. The 35th Division remained in the vicinity of Chaulnes until the German retirement. It took part in the retreat and established itself in the Hindenburg Line south of St. Quentin at the end of March.

ARTOIS.

2. After a few days of rest in the vicinity of Guise at the beginning of April, the division took part in the battle of Arras in the second half of April. At this time it lost about 50 per cent of its fighting men. The 141st Infantry Regiment received in May 135 to 140 men per company to make up for its losses (1918 class and men liberated by the dissolution of the 618th Infantry Regiment).

FLANDERS.

3. Sent to rest for the entire month of May in the vicinity of Lille and filled up by replacements of 3,000 men coming from the recruit depot at Warsaw on May 9, the 35th Division was sent into Belgium and occupied, on May 31, the banks of the Ypres-Comines Canal. On June 7 it lost heavily there (5,000 to 6,000 men, of whom 1,272 were prisoners).

4. Reorganized on June 11 in the vicinity of Cambrai, by replacements mostly made up of returned convalescents and wounded, the division was then sent into line in a calm sector north of St. Quentin, where it remained from June 21 to October 20.

FLANDERS.

5. On October 22 and 23 it reappeared on the Flanders front in the sector of the Houthulst wood. It had rather serious losses between October 22 and 25.

It was relieved on January 22, 1918, and sent to rest east of Bruges.

RECRUITING.

The 35th Division is recruited from western Prussia with some help from the 6th Corps District, especially in June, 1916 (important replacements made up of miners from Silesia). There is a rather large proportion of Poles, not only from the 17th Corps District, but also from the 5th and 6th Corps Districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 35th Division has taken part in numerous battles. Its quality has been greatly weakened by the incorporation of recruits of the 1918 class, and by the increase of the Polish elements.

The 35th Division appears to be a mediocre division (July, 1917).

The morale of the 141st Infantry Regiment, 50 per cent of which are Poles, appears poor. (November, 1917.)

1918.

YPRES.

1. The division was at rest east of Bruges (Maldeghem) until about February 17, when it was engaged in the vicinity of Merckem until March 20.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. It entrained at Pitthem on the 22d and moved to Carvin. It was in reserve at Evin-Malmaison until March 27, and later in reserve south of Lens (near Rouvroy) until April 1. It was moved to Lille and engaged from April 8–9 to the 14th at Neuve-Chapelle, Lestrem, Locon, Neuf Berquin. In the fighting on April 12 the division lost heavily. It was withdrawn on April 14.

FLANDERS.

3. The division rested near Armentiers until May 5, during which period it was reviewed by the Kaiser. It was in the sector north of Bailleul from May 8 to July 3. At this time the company effectives of the division seems to have been about 50 men. The division rested at Bruges from the 5th to the 17th, when it returned to the Merckem sector and occupied it until August 18. Considerable replacements were received in mid-August by the division.

ARTOIS.